Lubbock AgriLife Research scientist honored with state-level award

COLLEGE STATION – Dr. Wayne Keeling, of Lubbock was honored with Texas A&M AgriLife’s Vice Chancellor’s Award in Excellence in the research category.

Keeling is headquartered at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Lubbock, the largest off-campus facility in the Texas A&M University System, where he serves as a Texas A&M AgriLife Research professor and project leader for cropping and weed science.

The honor was presented Jan. 8 during the Texas A&M AgriLife Conference in College Station.

The Vice Chancellor’s Awards in Excellence were established in 1980. This awards program recognizes the commitment and outstanding contributions of faculty and staff across Texas A&M AgriLife and provides an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of those honored.

Keeling was nominated for his tremendous impact on agriculture in the High Plains of Texas, the southern region of the U.S., the nation and world, according to the award citation.

“Dr. Keeling was trained as a weed scientist, but has learned the ability to study all parts of our cropping systems and how to make each system more profitable,” wrote Dr. Peter Dotray, Lubbock-based AgriLife Research weed and herbicide scientist, in his letter of nomination for Keeling.

“Dr. Keeling is a highly sought after speaker and though he doesn’t have an official teaching appointment, he has taught weed science classes and served as a guest lecturer for years,” according to Dotray.

Dortray added that Keeling has chaired or co-chaired 23 master’s and doctoral students and served on eight graduate committees.

“He has the gift of understanding complex information and the ability to share this information in a way that all can understand,” Dotray stated in his letter.
“Dr. Keeling opens up his research facilities, shares his equipment, partners with industry representatives, works with key grower and commodity groups and mentors junior and mid-career faculty.

“He has never been a person who likes to put himself in the spotlight and has never been bothered by the lack of recognition he deserves.”

Keeling began his AgriLife Research career in 1974. He has 52 peer-reviewed journal publications to his credit, as well as more than 340 proceedings/abstracts, over 25 technical reports, 34 AgriLife Research publications and 25 Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service publications.

Keeling earned a bachelor’s in agronomy and master’s and doctoral degrees in crop science, all from Texas Tech University.